. The remaining torches are getting weaker and weaker, and the dungeon is getting darker and darker.

But he felt that the dungeon was experiencing unprecedented peace and brightness.

Although Barney Jr. was still silently absent-minded behind him, Thales knew that he no longer had to worry about the condition of the former Pioneer Officer.

And the only question he has left...

Thales shook his head, enduring the pain and walked towards the last figure.

The long-faced man who had been kneeling on the ground, with scars all over his body and a look of despair on his face, as if he had lost his soul.

The outline of the punishment knight slowly emerged in the dim vision.

His left arm, which was severely injured by Barney, hung down like a hollow snake slough, hanging stiffly and feebly on his shoulder.

"So, you are the only one left." Thales said softly.

The voice fell.

The Punishment Knight seemed to be still immersed in his own world, showing no reaction to Thales' words and letting him approach slowly.

But the moment Thales came ten steps closer to him, Sak'el jumped up like a suddenly awakened cheetah, instinctively picking up the chipped ax blade next to him!

"Your Highness!"

Belletti exclaimed and subconsciously stood up and moved forward.

Others also reacted one after another. Samuel frowned and held down his weapon. Tardin, Bree, Cannon and others stood up nervously and gathered in the direction of Sak'el. Even Barney came back to his senses.

The torch was raised.

But at this moment, Thales suddenly raised a hand behind him!

"Wait a moment."

The prince's voice was hoarse and weak, but everyone stopped subconsciously.

In the ultimate silence, Thales silently observed the long-faced man in front of him.

Sak'el didn't move, he just continued to breathe in confusion and trance.

The weapon in his hand was pointed at Thales from afar.

It's like it's instinctive.

The air solidified again.

From behind, Kuaisheng inquired with an embarrassed expression.

"Hey, Huai...uh, Thales?"

Belletti glanced at Sak'el, who was in a daze but still instinctively alert, and hesitated to speak.

"Your Highness, you'd better..."

Before he could finish speaking, Taldin on the other side nervously interrupted, "We can't go any further!"

"Danger, danger." This is Cannon, who is slightly neurotic.

Everyone present had different reactions, but they all stared at Sak'el with vigilance, who seemed to have just woken up from gibbering.

But Thales smiled.

"Thank you, Belletti, and you, Tardin, Cannon," the young man endured the discomfort.

"But I need you to wait for me a little longer."

Thales turned around, showed a tired smile, and raised an index finger

"In a moment."

He turned around, took a deep breath, and continued walking towards Sak'el.

Seeing the distance between the two getting closer, Belletti's expression changed.

"Your Highness, for your sake"

But an arm stretched out from the side and held down Belletti who wanted to take action!

"He said it," Barney, who stood up at some point, said coldly to the stunned Belletti and Tardin.

"Let's wait."

He seemed to have lingering grudge against Thales, and when he said this, he seemed to deliberately lower his head and not look in the direction of the prince.

Little Barney's forceful tone awakened Sak'el, whose eyes gradually became clear and focused on Thales.

Belletti looked blankly at the Pioneer Officer, then at Thales, and hesitated several times.

But in the end he didn't say anything or do anything.

He just stopped where he was, watching the prince worriedly as he moved forward.

Just like everyone else.

Until Thales came within three steps of Sak'el.

Sak'el gasped in confusion.

He looked around at his old colleagues who wanted to rush forward immediately, but they held back their pace.

Something is different.

He thought so.

Sak'el looked around,

He saw that Barney, who was used to giving orders, looked unhappy but said nothing.

Belletti, who has always been calm, even to the point of being rigid, also let things go.

Even Samir, who didn't like to obey orders, just pursed his lips and said nothing.

And the rest, whether it's Tardin or Cannon...

These comrades whom he once knew very well...

They had been standing quietly behind Thales, except for giving Sak'el a warning look, almost watching, letting the prince walk step by step in front of him who was covered in blood.

These guys...

Sak'el turned his head stiffly, his mind was scattered and confused, but he subconsciously tightened his grip on the weapon.

"you……"

Sak'el withdrew his tired and dark eyes and looked at Thales doubtfully, as if he was getting to know this young man again.

"What did you do to them?"

He spoke foolishly, as if he was asking the other party, and also seemed to be asking himself.

Thales took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"nothing."

The young man said slowly

"It's just something you want to do but can't do."

Sak'el was stunned for a moment, feeling dizzy.

Things I want to do but can’t do…

A few seconds later, the severely injured punishment knight shook his head vigorously.

"Is it."

He sneered slightly, lowered his dim eyes, and understood something.

The Punishment Knight let his left arm swing empty, gritted his teeth and raised the weapon in his right hand.

"You know, before I came here, as the hostage of Exeter of Star Kingdom, I escaped all the way back from Longxiao City." The young man's voice sounded low.

Sak'el's ax blade froze.

Longxiao City.

Sak'el's dazed mind moved slightly, as if he had been stabbed by something.

Thin and confused memories once again filled his overwhelmed spirit.

Is it.

The hostages of the Bright Star royal family in Longxiao City.

Thacker tightened the ax blade in his hand.

So, in the years since that tragedy, the kingdom has...

"I met a lot of people on the way," Thales said in a calm tone, as if he was talking about family matters. "One of them particularly touched me deeply."

"He said that after more than ten years of disguise, when he looked in the mirror again, he no longer recognized the person inside."

Sak'el's ax blade trembled slightly.

Thales took his eyes back from the time crossbow in Quick Rope's hand and sighed.

"He has forgotten why he put on that mask in the first place. He let the mask capture him, occupy him, and control him."

Thales stared at the man in front of him seriously

"Just like a warrior forgetting his mission of protection and becoming a slave to victory."

"It's like a king forgetting the responsibility of governing and surrendering to the vanity of merit."

The punishment knight's body began to shake slightly.

Thales looked directly into Sak'el's eyes.
To be continued...